A few drummers also came and went, but the band really started coming together when Brett Robertson joined in 1982. We recorded our first single ‘Valhalla / Boadicea’ at a studio in Cheltenham, which was produced by Mike Fisher who used to organise our P.A. at gigs. By now we were putting our own tours together around the country and the following years were spent constantly gigging. We upgraded our old van to a converted coach which became our home from home.

By 1984 we were approached by Bullit Records to sign with them to record our debut album. After playing a couple of shows in Belgium we went into Thameside Studios in Rotherhithe, London. Not having much experience of recording, things started to go wrong when Bullit went bust while we were in the studio. We wanted to pull the plug on the whole thing but we were under contract to finish. The studio set-up did not suit some members of the band, and this led to Brett’s departure. A couple more drummers passed through, but we got back on track when Adam Palfrey filled the drum stool, only for us to be dealt another blow when long-time bassist Joe Larner decided he had had enough.*